29/10/2012

'No Excuse' For Abuse Of Patients

Health Minister Norman Lamb has said there is "no excuse" for the mistreatment of patients at the Winterbourne View care home.

The now-closed private hospital is under public fire after being exposed by a BBC Panorama report. The report found staff members had routinely physically abused and tormented elderly residents at the home.

Six former workers were jailed on Friday for abusing patients.

A new Panorama report tonight is due to reveal how new safety alerts have been issued for some former patients.

A further 11 former workers were convicted at Bristol Crown Court for ill-treatment and neglect of residents.

It is expected tonight’s Panorama report will show at least 19 of the 51 former patients at the home have been issued with safeguarding alerts since they were relocated.

Mr Lamb said in a statement to the Commons: "The BBC Panorama programme to be broadcast tonight continues to highlight inappropriate and poor quality care. There is no excuse for this."

He said a Department of Health review had found "clear evidence that there are far too many people in specialist inpatient learning disability services - including assessment and treatment units - and many are staying there for too long.

"The key priorities are to address unacceptable failures of commissioning and to improve the capacity and capability of commissioning across health and care for people with behaviour which challenges with the aim of driving up the quality of care they receive, improving their lives and significantly reducing the number of people using inpatient services."

The news began when a secret Panorama report showed support workers abusing patients by slapping them, pinning them under chairs and punishing them with cold showers.

(IT)

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